Modular system for controlling a liquid crystal display

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/045,272 filed on Mar. 10, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 61/312,538 filed on Mar. 10, 2010 and U.S. application Ser. No. 61/379,193 filed on Sep. 1, 2010. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/045,272 is also a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/684,608 filed on Jan. 8, 2010, which is a non-provisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 61/143,189 filed on Jan. 8, 2009. All aforementioned applications are incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

0002Exemplary embodiments generally relate to subassemblies for controlling LCD displays.

Background of the Art

0003Electronic displays such as LCDs are being used in a variety of new applications across a number of different platforms. In some applications, base level LCD assemblies may be purchased from a manufacturer and later modified with housings and additional circuitry to perform the user's desired end functions. In most applications, adding new circuitry requires extensive labor and additional connectors and wiring. This labor is not only expensive and time-consuming, but the additional connectors and wiring are prone to failure or malfunction over time. Further, when these components malfunction in the field, removing the display and servicing it can be very expensive and time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

0004Exemplary embodiments utilize a similar base LCD device while permitting a plurality of different video modules to be installed which can provide a number of different features. Power can be shared throughout the various boards so that separate power modules and connections are not required. The video modules may be connected using board edge connectors to the timing and control boards so that they can easily be installed initially and removed/serviced once in the field. The embodiments allow for a base unit to be mass-manufactured while providing a number of specific features to customers that can easily be installed or even upgraded when the customer would like to change their display setups.

0005An alternative embodiment may provide a power module as well as the video module. Each module may connect with a backplane which can distribute the power and signals throughout the components of the display. Output power as well as output video may be used with some modules so that displays can be ‘daisy-chained’ together in order to reduce installation costs and time. Some embodiments may include a speaker on one or both of the modules so that sound reproduction may be included as an option.

0006The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0007A better understanding of an exemplary embodiment will be obtained from a reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters refer to identical parts and in which:

0008<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment using a video player module.

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of another embodiment which uses a video player module as well as a power module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows an embodiment of the integrated power supply system, preferably for use with an LED-backlit LCD. For an exemplary embodiment, the LED-backlit LCD along with the LED power and system supply power board (LPB) <b>50</b> and the timing and control board (TCON) <b>60</b> would be mass-manufactured with similar features. The video module <b>70</b> could be designed specifically for each end user and could be easily installed within the mass-manufactured portions of the LCD.

0011The LPB <b>50</b> may provide several power supplies. In some embodiments, the LPB <b>50</b> may provide at least two power supplies: a first power supply which takes the inlet AC power from the user's premises and converts this to the low voltage DC required by the electronics (some of this power may be routed to the TCON <b>60</b> and video module <b>70</b>) and a second power supply which drives the LEDs used in the backlight assembly. In other embodiments, there may be an auxiliary power supply (in addition to the first and second) which may send the current required by any other miscellaneous electronics. In some embodiments, the first or second power supply may actually contain more than one physical power brick or supply assembly.

0012The AC power input <b>90</b> may establish communication with the AC power at the location and conduction line <b>92</b> may deliver the power to the LPB <b>50</b>. As taught further below, it may be preferable to also include an AC power outlet such that a second (or third etc.) electronic display can draw power through the first display (so that connecting each display to the local AC power individually is not necessary). Another power conduction line <b>30</b> may be used to transfer power from the LPB to the TCON <b>60</b>. A signal conduction line <b>25</b> may be used to transfer various electronic signals back-and-forth between the LPB <b>50</b> and the TCON <b>60</b>.

0013A video input connection <b>75</b> may be provided on the LPB <b>50</b> for accepting incoming video data. A video output connection <b>76</b> may also be provided on the LPB <b>50</b> for allowing a video data output from the display. By using the video output connection <b>76</b>, several displays may be connected in ‘series’ or ‘daisy-chained’ so that overall cabling from the video source can be reduced.

0014The TCON <b>60</b> may convert the differential video signals from the video module <b>70</b> into signals required to drive the rows and column circuits of the LCD cell. The TCON <b>60</b> may also provide motion compensation and interpolation to convert incoming signals from 60 Hz to 120 Hz, 240 Hz, or greater. The TCON <b>60</b> may also analyze the video data in order to dynamically dim the backlight. A board-edge connector <b>100</b> may be used to connect the TCON <b>60</b> with the video module <b>70</b>. The connector <b>100</b> may allow the TCON <b>60</b> to pass power to and receive video data from the video module <b>60</b>.

0015A chassis <b>10</b> may be used to house the, sometimes mass-manufactured, display components (LCD, TCON, LPB, etc.) and may contain the mechanical features necessary to hold the video module <b>70</b> in place. An access opening may be provided in the chassis and sized to allow the video module <b>70</b> to pass through the chassis and attach to the TCON <b>60</b>. An access panel (preferably lockable) can be provided to cover the access opening so that the video module <b>70</b> can easily be accessed, even once the display has been placed in the field. Chassis-mounted guides <b>80</b> may allow the video module <b>70</b> to accurately and repeatably plug into the TCON <b>60</b>. The guides <b>80</b> may be card guides if using a printed-circuit board or other thin substrate or may be drawer guides if using a different type of substrate.

0016The video module <b>70</b> could be produced in a variety of formats with a number of different components and functions to meet the end-user's needs. Every video module <b>70</b> should pass video data to the TCON <b>60</b>. In addition, every video module <b>70</b> should have an edge connector <b>100</b> (or some form of blind-mate connector) that will connect the locally generated Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) video signal to the TCON <b>60</b> as well as pick up DC power from the LPB <b>50</b> (available through the TCON <b>60</b>). Additionally, a pair of board extractors may allow the user to overcome any insertion or extraction forces presented by the board edge connector <b>100</b>.

0017The video modules <b>70</b> may vary by the source of the video content and how ‘smart’ the onboard processor will be. There are a number of means for generating the LVDS for the TCON. Some video modules <b>70</b> may contain DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort inputs with basic processing capabilities. Other video modules <b>70</b> may contain wired Ethernet video over IP with a large set of processing features (status and setup information may be accessible via a wired Ethernet connection). Still other video modules <b>70</b> may contain wireless Ethernet video over IP with a large set of processing features (status and setup information may be accessible via wired or wireless Ethernet connections). Still other video modules <b>70</b> may contain high definition analog video via a coax connection (i.e. cable TV) with basic processing features. Still other video modules <b>70</b> may contain an embedded video player where the content to the player can be uploaded with a wired Ethernet connection.

0018It should be noted that the video module <b>70</b> can take on many forms. In some embodiments, the module may be a printed circuit boards with the various components mounted to the board and electrical conduction lines built into one or more layers of the board. Alternatively, the module may simply provide a structure (ex. plate or drawer or substrate) for mounting several components, but this structure may not actually comprise a printed circuit board. Thus, components may be mounted or bolted to the structure and the electrical connections may be provided by wires/harnesses and connectors rather than incorporated into a layer of the board. A similar type of board edge connector (or blind connector) can be used at the back of the plate or drawer to establish communication with the TCON <b>60</b>.

0019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a block diagram for another embodiment which uses a video module <b>286</b> in addition to a power module <b>265</b>, which connect with a backplane <b>220</b> in order to communicate with each other as well as with the TCON <b>200</b>. The power module <b>265</b> may interface with guides <b>260</b> so that its connector <b>262</b> may line up with that of the backplane <b>220</b> when the power module <b>265</b> is inserted. Similarly, the video module <b>286</b> may interface with guides <b>285</b> so that its connector <b>263</b> may line up with the backplane <b>220</b> when the video module <b>286</b> is inserted. The guides <b>260</b> and <b>285</b> may be fixed to the chassis <b>205</b> (or some other portion of the display) which contains the various components and adds structure for securing various assemblies. Access openings may be provided in the chassis <b>205</b> and sized to allow the video module <b>286</b> or power module <b>265</b> to pass through the chassis <b>205</b> and attach to the backplane <b>220</b>.

0020The power module <b>265</b> preferably includes an offline AC power supply which converts AC power from the location to the low voltage DC power typically required by on-board electronics and a DC power supply which provides power to the backlight. Some embodiments may also include an auxiliary power supply which may provide the current for the video module <b>286</b> (which is preferably transferred through the backplane <b>220</b>). An exemplary embodiment contains a power input connection <b>270</b> as well as a power output connection <b>271</b> on the power module <b>265</b>. The power output connection <b>271</b> allows for multiple displays to be wired in ‘series’ or ‘daisy-chained’ so as to reduce the amount of cabling needed. An alternative embodiment would place the power input connection (<b>270</b>) anywhere within the display and simply provide electrical communication with the backplane <b>220</b> so that the input power could be routed to the power module <b>265</b>. The power output connection could also be placed anywhere within the display and simply provide communication with the backplane <b>220</b>.

0021The backplane <b>220</b> may comprise a printed circuit board with interfacing connectors to the connectors for the power module <b>265</b> and video module <b>286</b> (as well as the various other electrical communications/connections described herein). The backplane <b>220</b> preferably includes conduction lines which allow power from the power module <b>265</b> to travel to the TCON <b>200</b> (ultimately through power conduction line <b>250</b>). The backplane <b>220</b> may also contain conduction lines which provide power to the video module <b>286</b>. Preferably, the backplane <b>220</b> also provides the power to the backlight through the conduction line <b>290</b>.

0022The video module <b>286</b> preferably includes a video input connection <b>280</b> as well as an optional video output connection <b>281</b>. Again, the video output connection <b>281</b> allows for several displays to be connected in ‘series’ or ‘daisy-chained.’ Alternatively, the video input connection (<b>280</b>) could be placed anywhere within the display and simply provide electrical communication with the backplane <b>220</b> so that the input video signal could be routed to the video module <b>286</b>. The video output connection <b>281</b> could also be placed anywhere within the display and simply provide electrical communication with the backplane <b>220</b>.

0023The connector <b>263</b> should preferably provide power from the backplane <b>220</b> to the various components of the video module <b>286</b>. The connector <b>263</b> should also allow the video module <b>286</b> to output the video signal (preferably Low Voltage Differential Signaling—LVDS) to the backplane <b>220</b> and ultimately to the TCON <b>200</b> through a video signal conduction line <b>252</b>. Once the video data is sent through the conduction line <b>252</b> to the TCON <b>200</b>, it may be used to drive the row and column circuits on the LCD. As known in the art, the TCON <b>200</b> may also provide various motion compensation and interpolation to convert the incoming signal frequency to the desired frequency for the LCD (i.e. converting 60 Hz to 120 or 240 Hz). In an exemplary embodiment, the TCON <b>200</b> would analyze the incoming video data to produce the information necessary to control (i.e. dynamically dim) the backlight. Thus, resulting signals for the backlight may travel through the backlight signal conduction line <b>254</b> and connect through the backplane <b>220</b> to the power module <b>265</b>. The signals for the backlight may then be used to direct the DC power supply as to the precise power for the backlight. This precise power information would then preferably be transferred to the backplane <b>220</b> where it is sent to the backlight through the conduction line <b>290</b>.

0024The video module <b>286</b> may also contain an optional speaker <b>267</b> and accompanying audio amplifier. Another corresponding speaker <b>266</b> may be placed within the power module <b>265</b> and receive its signal from the audio amplifier through the power module's <b>265</b> connection <b>262</b> with the backplane <b>220</b>. Thus, modules can be designed for end users who desire sound reproduction or prefer no sound production. Later users can also upgrade to sound production even if initially there was none.

0025Similar to the embodiments described above, the video module <b>286</b> may vary widely, depending on the source of the video content and how ‘smart’ the onboard processor will be. There are a number of means for generating the LVDS for the TCON. Some video modules <b>286</b> may contain DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort inputs with basic processing capabilities. Other video modules <b>286</b> may contain wired Ethernet video over IP with a large set of processing features (status and setup information may be accessible via a wired Ethernet connection). Still other video modules <b>286</b> may contain wireless Ethernet video over IP with a large set of processing features (status and setup information may be accessible via wired or wireless Ethernet connections). Still other video modules <b>286</b> may contain high definition analog video via a coax connection (i.e. cable TV) with basic processing features. Still other video modules <b>286</b> may contain an embedded video player where the content to the player can be uploaded with a wired Ethernet connection.

0026It should be noted that the video module <b>286</b> and the power module <b>265</b> can take on many forms. In some embodiments, the modules may be printed circuit boards with the various components mounted to the board and electrical conduction lines built into one or more layers of the board. Alternatively, the modules may simply provide a structure (ex. plate or drawer) for mounting several components, but this structure may not actually comprise a printed circuit board. Thus, components may be mounted or bolted to the structure and the electrical connections may be provided by wires/harnesses and connectors rather than incorporated into a layer of the board. A similar type of blind connector can be used at the back of the plate or drawer to establish communication with the backplane <b>220</b>. Using a mounting structure rather than a printed circuit board may allow different types of guides <b>260</b> and <b>285</b> to be used and may provide a more robust design. Thus, larger or more sensitive components could be mounted directly to the mounting structure and remain secure during install/removal and operation.

0027An exemplary embodiment may provide a board extractor for the video module <b>286</b> or power module <b>265</b> or both. An extractor may be used to allow the user to overcome any insertion or extraction force presented by the connectors <b>262</b> and <b>263</b>.

0028The exemplary embodiments herein permit a unitary design for the LCD/TCON to be mass manufactured while video (and sometimes power) modules can later be designed/installed in a fast and efficient manner depending on the customer's requirements. Once in use, the modules can also be easily replaced/serviced/upgraded while the device remains in the field.

0029Having shown and described preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described embodiments and still be within the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.